Options abound for cheap summer entertainment
There are two great American pastimes nearby. Baseball games and drive-in movies have been a part of summer culture since the 1930s. The Starlite Drive-In and Salem Avalanche offer good summer fun for low prices.
Even if you've never been to a music festival, consider checking out Floyd Fest in nearby Floyd, Va. Also, don't forget about the Steppin' Out Summer Arts Festival in Blacksburg at the beginning of August. Regardless of how you choose to spend the last half of summer, you can find a way to have a good time, save money and experience more of what the area has to offer.
For students who are tired of seeing movies in the standard theaters, Christiansburg is home to the Starlite Drive-In movie theater — one of the few remaining in the country. The drive-in is a perfect cheap date with tickets costing only $4. Starlite is also famous for its tasty hotdogs, which will cost you only $1.25.
Even if the theater is playing a movie you don't really want to see, the unconventional movie-going experience is worth the time and money. Starlite is only open Friday through Sunday and will be playing "Wall-E" this weekend. Check out its Web site (www.starlitedrivein.biz) for more information and show times.
The Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium is only 30 minutes from Blacksburg and choosing to go on a promotion night can cut the cost tremendously. With deals like "Dollar Mondays" and "Throwback Thursdays" general admission or a beer can cost as little as $1. The full schedule can be found at www.salemavalanche.com.
The 7th annual Floyd Fest takes place July 24 through July 27. The short drive from Blacksburg and the relatively cheap ticket price ($140 per ticket) make this one of the cheaper and more convenient music festivals of the summer. The main bands performing are Amos Lee, Rusted Root and the Avett Brothers.
